Recommend me a cheap acoustic guitar

[4>0rings]

I don't want to spend more than $250. I was thinking a Jasmine Takamine.

Anyone have any recommendations? I already have my electric but sometimes I want to tool around on an acoustic. I don't care for the huge dreadnought types/designs even though they will sound better. Any thoughts?

[fatsack]

craigslist

[4>0rings]

craigslist
OK, what do I look for?

[monosylab1k]

OK, what do I look for?

cheap acoustic guitar

[DPG21920]

My first guitar and it has lasted me for 10 years and sounds great. Cheap and good quality.

http://www.amazon.com/Jasmine-Takamine-S33-Dreadnought-Acoustic/dp/B001G7C0SQ

[Blackjack]

Honestly, I couldn't tell ya. I've got a '63 Gibson that I've had for probably 15 years and haven't ever thought to get another. I suggest hitting up the pawn shops and even if you don't buy there, get a feel for some of the used guitars. A lot of them can be found cheap or bargained for cheap and they sound much better than a lot of these newer mass-produced acoustics, IMO.

http://www.recproaudio.com/diy_pro_audio/images/1963_gibson_lg-0.jpg

[ChumpDumper]

If you're buying new, you should be able to get a decent guitar with a solid top (not laminate) for the amount of money you gave. Go to the store and try out a few models from Epiphone, Jasmine, Yamaha or Fender.

For about $50 more, you could get an actual Takamine solid top.

But yes, if you have the patience for the search, you might be able to find a really nice used guitar.

[dirk4mvp]

My first guitar and it has lasted me for 10 years and sounds great. Cheap and good quality.

http://www.amazon.com/Jasmine-Takamine-S33-Dreadnought-Acoustic/dp/B001G7C0SQ

tbh, when he plays Use Somebody, it will sound great on det one.

[Sotongball21]

Whatever you do. don't get an Epiphone.

[clambake]

Whatever you do. don't get an Epiphone.

my kid has one.

a very good guitar.

[Sotongball21]

my kid has one.

a very good guitar.

No man. For the money i spent on my EJ 200, i would rather get a takamine.

[koriwhat]

i have a jasmine takamine... i don't like the steel strings then again i don't really play it at all these days... at all.

[TimDunkem]

No man. For the money i spent on my EJ 200, i would rather get a takamine.
Yep. Much like Gibson guitars, you pay for the name on the headstock.

[clambake]

http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/f592ae582a.jpg (http://www.freeimagehosting.net/)

this is what my kid has.

it seems to be a good guitar, sounds great with or without amp.

[JamStone]

I only have one guitar and it's the same one I bought like 8 years ago. It's a "Johnson" blue acoustic. Had to have the bridge shaved down because the strings were high and too tight. Then got some Martin medium acoustic guitar strings. And the guitar sounds great. The quality of guitar strings can make a huge difference.

Like I said, still have the same one 8 years later. Ordered it online. Extremely cheap, back then it was roughly $100. Probably can get it for around that still.

I'm not a huge guitar player. I don't play electric. I don't play every day. But I don't just have my guitar for show either. I'll probably pick it up a handful of times a week and just jam for a little while. When I'm in the mood, I might play every day for a couple weeks at a time before my fingertips get mad at me. But, if you're just looking to get a recreational guitar for limited use, this axe has lasted me quite a while. I'm probably buying a new one soon. You can always go to Guitar Center to look at acoustics there. They generally can tell you what's a good guitar for the price you want to spend.

[z0sa]

$250 will get you better than "cheap". If you can save another $100, you'll get into the price range of some fine quality instruments, including Ibanez, Takamine, Epiphone, even Fender. The key is searching around and playing a lot. Don't get one based on superficial beauty or even feel; you can adjust action later and probably should on any mid-range acoustic. Listen to each one you play, play the same songs and riffs on each one, and it won't be long before you find one that's both a great deal and exhibits the tone you want.

[z0sa]

I personally don't use acoustic style strings. I use electric strings for any guitar, as it improves action and a quality acoustic won't suffer much in volume.

[Wild Cobra]

I could only find a cheap electric:

Aoi-YRW_YKA

[4>0rings]

If you're buying new, you should be able to get a decent guitar with a solid top (not laminate) for the amount of money you gave. Go to the store and try out a few models from Epiphone, Jasmine, Yamaha or Fender.

For about $50 more, you could get an actual Takamine solid top.

But yes, if you have the patience for the search, you might be able to find a really nice used guitar. Trying to find a used one here in SA but there is much bigger market in Austin.... all those damn hippes.


your parents must be footing the bill if you consider $250 'cheap'Na, I have a house with my gf. I won 3 bills on a biggest fish pot deep sea fishing so I thought I'd buy something I've been wanting for awhile.

[RedsLakers24]

Have one thats a Mitchell or something like that, is that one a good one?

[sabar]

$250 isn't a cheap acoustic guitar. That'd be $50-100.

[admiralsnackbar]

I can honestly say my cheapo early 90's Washburn was the best acoustic I've ever had before heavy-gauge strings and too many temperature/humidity fluctuations in the NE finally bowed the neck irreparably. If you can find one made between 1974-1996, I guarantee you you'll be happy.

The closest thing to a replacement I could find was a Yamaha DWX7C, which is selling used around your price-point, but also has a piezo pick-up and built in condenser mic, which you may not need.

[Mr. Peabody]

I would recommend a Seagull C6. They retail for $400, but you can find them on Craigslist or Dave's Guitars for $225 or $250. It's a good quality Canadian-made guitar. I picked one up a couple of months back for $225 from Dave's Guitar and it plays great.

[DisAsTerBot]

I would recommend a Seagull C6. They retail for $400, but you can find them on Craigslist or Dave's Guitars for $225 or $250. It's a good quality Canadian-made guitar. I picked one up a couple of months back for $225 from Dave's Guitar and it plays great.

+1000000. Had my S6 for about ten years.....feels better than any other acoustic ive played

[Mr. Peabody]

+1000000. Had my S6 for about ten years.....feels better than any other acoustic ive played

Sorry, I meant S6 . . . . :lol

Also, I agree. The thing plays like a dream. My father's a collector, so I've played Martins, Taylors, Breedloves, Gibsons, etc. The S6 plays as well as any of them. It doesn't have as deep of a tone as say a Gibson J-200, but it's a quality, well-playing guitar.

[Mr. Peabody]

Dave's Guitars has a Taylor Big Baby for $275. That's a quality guitar for only $25 over your price range. There was also one on Craigslist for $300 from a guy in Kerrville. Maybe you could talk him down some.

[lefty]

www.goodcheapacousticguitars.com

[admiralsnackbar]

I would recommend a Seagull C6. They retail for $400, but you can find them on Craigslist or Dave's Guitars for $225 or $250. It's a good quality Canadian-made guitar. I picked one up a couple of months back for $225 from Dave's Guitar and it plays great.

Totally forgot about them. A hall-mate in college had one and you're right: very nice, inexpensive guitars. I remember the neck had a satin lacquer on it that made it effortless to get around on, and it almost played like a Strat in terms of string-tension.

[Blackjack]

Big fan of the Seagull's. Great playing and sounding guitars. :tu

[MannyIsGod]

I'd like to echo the seagull recommendation.

[4>0rings]

I liked the Seagulls but the new ones were out of my price range. I never heard of those sites so I'll check them out.

Right now I'am leaning on a Yamaha FG700S. It's $200 new. Always gets good ratings and it's a solid Sitka Spruce top.

[DisAsTerBot]

good to hear all the seagull love. When i got mine ten years ago or so, i knew nothing about seagull but i immediately fell in love with the way you seem to glide around the fret board. All these years of playing on it and it still feels soft as ever.

[Fpoonsie]

When did every single ST poster become a fucking musician? (<-shock, not necessarily sarcasm)

[Blackjack]

Degenerates, musicians, fuck-ups, message board warriors, they all pretty much go hand in hand, tbh, IMHO, brah.

[Ignignokt]

I play classical, but used to play dreadnought.

The best guitars are either the Alvarez or Seagulls.

but to be honest, cheap acoustic guitars suck in the 250 range suck if they're new. You're better off spending 600-800 dollars buying a guitar that has a solid top, possible solid back and sides for better resonance.

People say that cheap guitars and expensive guitars aren't too different. That's bullshit. Resonance is important, if you have none, your guitar will sound dull and you will hear more of the strings than you will hear the box.

I would either purchase a seagull, or alvarez personally. All other guitars suck in that low end price range.

[Blackjack]

good to hear all the seagull love. When i got mine ten years ago or so, i knew nothing about seagull but i immediately fell in love with the way you seem to glide around the fret board. All these years of playing on it and it still feels soft as ever.

Yeah, that's what always impressed me. I remember just picking one up off the rack over ten-years ago and just being blown away at how easy it played; it was almost like the feeling of getting your first guitar set up right the first time.

Just a really great feel and sound -- I think I just talked myself out of a few hundred dollars. :lol

[Mr. Peabody]

Here's a Seagull S6+ for $237 plus shipping ($272 total) - http://www.daddys.com/detail.php?itemTitle=seagull-s6+-spruce&itemNumber=SEA3232

[mffl89]

I bought this about 2 years ago and it sounds great normal and plugged in.
It's an acoustic electric yamaha guitar for $200.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Yamaha-FX-335-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-101862217-i1166369.gc

[4>0rings]

Here's a Seagull S6+ for $237 plus shipping ($272 total) - http://www.daddys.com/detail.php?itemTitle=seagull-s6+-spruce&itemNumber=SEA3232 Little over my budget, though nice. What about a Yamaha FG700. It's $200 shipped and new? It has a solid spruce top and has great ratings all over the web.


I bought this about 2 years ago and it sounds great normal and plugged in.
It's an acoustic electric yamaha guitar for $200.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Yamaha-FX-335-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-101862217-i1166369.gc
That's a nice rig but I'd like to get something with a solid top so I could keep it for a long time.

[4>0rings]

www.goodcheapacousticguitars.com (http://www.goodcheapacousticguitars.com)I thought we were cool. :depressed

[Mr. Peabody]

Little over my budget, though nice. What about a Yamaha FG700. It's $200 shipped and new? It has a solid spruce top and has great ratings all over the web.


I've never played one, but usually I check Harmony Central for the reviews that are posted on that site.

Here's the link for the model you're considering - http://www.harmonycentral.com/products/100711

[MannyIsGod]

When did every single ST poster become a fucking musician? (<-shock, not necessarily sarcasm)

Dude you have thousands of people posting here and you're shocked that a handful play guitar?

[chode_regulator]

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Taylor-900-Series-916ce-Grand-Symphony-Cutaway-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=516486

http://www.musikhaus-hermann.de/catalog/images/916ce-4.jpg

[chode_regulator]

Seriously you probably won't like a guitar that costs 200 bucks.
I bought a cheap acoustic one time and hated it. It sounded like shit. I sent it back immediately.

Biggest thing is to make sure you get the wood type you want. I don't remember what mine is anymore, I'm like you I hardly ever play it, but it is a deeper darker tone whereas I would prefer one that is more bright and shiny.

[4>0rings]

Just bought:
http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b470/i3oosted/acousticguitar.jpg

Yamaha FG700S Dreadnought

Solid Sitka Spruce Top

Nato Back and Sides

Rosewood Fingerboard

Rosewood Bridge

Black / White Body Binding

Tortoise Pickguard

Diecast Tuners

Natural Finish


Guitar sounds fantastic, although could use a little more bass but that would mean rosewood sides and more $$$. The finish is amazing and perfect.

Probably the most value you can get in an acoustic guitar right now. $200 with solid spruce top.

[clambake]

ok, now do something about that sofa.

[ChumpDumper]

I have to get my Tacoma Thunderchief repaired. I loan it out for the first time in five years and it comes back with a huge ding and split on it's top. I try not to get attached to material things, but damn -- that really hurt.

Nice purchase for you. Glad you like it.